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Nurturing Childhood Discovery and Joy

“[F]rom infancy,” wrote Principia founder Mary Kimball Morgan, “children should be taught obedience to Principle, forgetfulness of self, patience, endurance, courage in the right, self-control, and faith in God” (Education at The Principia, p. 23).

And that’s exactly what happens daily at Principia School’s Early Learning Center (ELC)!

“Principia offers a unique opportunity to educate our students in an environment based on Love and founded on Principle,” says Kathleen Ouellette, lead teacher of two- and three-year-olds (pictured above). “It is such a joy watching young minds receptive to truths inquire, explore, and analyze the world around them. The knowledge they gain now provides the foundation for all learning, so we take our jobs very seriously.”

The ELC welcomes infants and toddlers from six weeks to three years from all local Christian Science families. Located in its own building on the School campus, and with direct access to shaded and protected outdoor play areas, the ELC is open from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school year (and in the summertime as needed). In an effort to provide flexibility for families, it offers full- or part-time care as well as drop-ins, when space is available.

Infants and young toddlers (up to about 18 months old) have their own section and teaching team, and 2s and 3s have a separate classroom and play area. Both groups enjoy a selection of appropriate activity stations in their classrooms, occasional walks around and even off campus as well as daily story time and singing, interspersed with outdoor play (and, of course, nap time).

Learning themes help guide the program focus. For example, at the start of the year, when the focus was on “me and my family” for the 2s and 3s, teachers helped each child create his or her own picture book, showing members of the family and favorite activities. With the arrival of autumn, the children will be enjoying apple week and pumpkin week, as well as collecting fall foliage to create art work.

Through each day, the focus is not just on keeping children occupied but on engaging them in thinking about what they are doing and why and in seeing themselves as part of a caring family. Snack and mealtimes provide natural opportunities to practice “please” and “thank you” and to learn to clear the table or mop up the occasional spill.

What distinguishes Principia’s Early Learning Center from a typical “daycare” facility, says Leslie Hanlin (US’86), assistant teacher in the infants’ and toddlers’ section, is “the intentionality of the program; the years of experience of the educators; and the Christian Science environment.” Many of the teachers and caregivers have teaching degrees and certificates, and for all of them, seeing each child as unlimited, whole, and God’s perfect reflection isn’t just a duty—it’s a joyous privilege.